Recording and communication of handwritten information

Abstract

A hand-held user unit (1), which can be part of a network-based information management system, allows for the writing down and recording of handwritten information. The user unit (1) has a memory for storing the recorded information. The memory comprises a first memory part (M1) located in the user unit and a second memory part (M2) located in an external data storage device, which memory parts are connected in such a way that, from the point of view of a user, they form a coherent memory unit.Methods for memory management in such a user unit are also described.

Description

[0001]This application claims benefit of Ser. No. 60 / 257,835 filed Dec. 21, 2000, and claims benefit of Ser. No. 60 / 261,122 filed Jan. 12, 2001, and claims benefit of Ser. No. 60 / 316,025 filed Aug. 31, 2001.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to hand-held units for recording handwritten information.TECHNICAL BACKGROUND[0003]There are a number of ways to communicate handwritten information electronically. One alternative is to write the information on a sheet of paper and thereafter to send the information via a fax machine. An alternative way of sending handwritten information electronically is to scan it in and to send it electronically via, for example, electronic mail or using the mobile telephone network. A disadvantage of both methods is that two steps are required to enter the handwritten text electronically. In a first step the user writes the text on a base and in a second step the handwritten text is converted into electronic format via optical reading in the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027]A further advantage of the invention is that the external data storage device that contains the external memory unit can have a considerably larger data processing capacity than can be achieved in small, compact, hand-held user units. Thus, the stored information can thereby be processed according to considerably more complicated rules than what would be possible in a hand-held user unit.

[0028]According to a further embodiment, the information transmission means is arranged to transfer all the recorded information to the second memory unit. This means that the user has access to all the recorded information via the external memory unit, irrespective of whether the information has been forwarded in the information management system or not. The information can, for example, be time-stamped at the time of recording, in order to facilitate searching in the external memory unit.

[0029]It is preferable for the transmission of information to be initiated via a “send” command from the user unit. The “send” command initiates the transmission of associated information from the internal memory unit to the external memory unit, and collation of associated information in connection to the external memory unit.

[0030]According to a preferred embodiment, the recorded information comprises a plurality of absolute positions that form an electronic version of the handwritten information. The information can, in this case, be recorded from a base with an absolute position code, as mentioned above.

[0031]After recording the “send” command, the hand-held user unit is preferably arranged to obtain an address for the information management unit by a request to an external look-up unit and on the basis of the position content in the recorded information. Thus the position content in the recorded information controls where the information is to be sent for further processing, which increases the possibilities for, and simplifies, communication and management of handwritten information.

[0032]According to one embodiment, the user unit is arranged to obtain said address via a communication unit in the external data storage device. Thus, both the load on the processor in the user unit and the data traffic to and from the user unit are reduced. In a mobile embodiment, where the user unit communicates at least partially via a mobile telephone network, it can also be important to minimize this data traffic for reasons associated with bandwidth and / or cost.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of both methods is that two steps are required to enter the handwritten text electronically.

This means that the amount of information that can be stored in the user unit is relatively limited and that information that has been recorded by the user unit must be deleted after a while.

It is, however, difficult to know what information can be deleted and what should be saved.

If we choose to make the memory unit large in order to reduce the need to delete so often, there is the risk that the user unit will be undesirably expensive.

The storage capacity of the user unit can thereby be increased as required, however at the expense of a reduction in user-friendliness, increased cost to the user, a reduction in the freedom of design of the user unit, increased risk of operational disturbances caused by the ingress of dust, moisture, etc.

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